Michael Douglas isn’t staying silent. While attending the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, the 80-year-old Oscar-winning actor delivered a candid assessment of the world’s current state—and he pointed a finger at former President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Addressing reporters, Douglas expressed deep concern over rising global tensions, immigration crises, and international instability, calling this moment in history “the worst he’s seen in his lifetime.” He even offered an apology on behalf of the United States, signaling his dismay over the country’s role in fueling division across nations.
Michael Douglas is making headlines—not for a film role, but for speaking candidly about what he sees as a dangerous turning point in global affairs.
While attending the opening of the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, the 80-year-old Oscar-winning actor didn’t mince words. Reflecting on the state of the world, Douglas offered a sobering assessment:
“I was born at the end of World War II, but in my lifetime, this is the worst time that I can ever remember,” he said. “I realize that my country bears a lot of the responsibility for the chaos that exists in the world. I apologize … to my friends, be it my neighbors in Canada or Mexico, or all the countries in the EU and NATO. I’m embarrassed and I apologize.”
Douglas, who became a household name in the 1980s, is best known for his iconic portrayal of ruthless businessman Gordon Gekko in Wall Street—a role often compared to Donald Trump’s real-life persona during the same era. Ironically, Douglas and Trump briefly crossed paths during the filming of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps in 2010, when Trump shot a cameo that was ultimately cut from the final film.
Beyond the big screen, Douglas has portrayed a U.S. president in The American President and frequently uses his platform to speak on political issues. While he rarely mentioned Trump by name during the festival, his remarks left little doubt about who he held responsible for much of today’s turmoil.
When asked what had disappointed him most recently, Douglas replied plainly:
“This last election in our country.”
He also condemned Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric on immigration.
“Immigration is a problem in every country,” Douglas acknowledged. “But [Trump] created such drama, that all these immigrants were murderers and rapists. This is before he got elected.”
Perhaps most concerning to Douglas is what he sees as an abuse of presidential authority.
“My question to our government is: when or how do we stop this executive power?”
In a time of division and global unrest, Douglas’s voice cuts through with conviction—offering not just criticism, but accountability.
Michael Douglas didn’t hold back when it came to how former President Donald Trump treated his home state of California. Speaking from the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, the Oscar-winning actor emphasized California’s global economic power—and his frustration over how it’s been dismissed by federal leadership.
“The state of California is the fourth-largest GDP in the world,” Douglas pointed out. “You have the United States, China, India—then the state of California. Bigger than Japan.”
But his real concern lies with the human cost of immigration crackdowns, especially in California’s Central Valley, where immigrant labor is the backbone of America’s food production.
“There’s no possible reason you should call out the National Guard to deport these people,” he said. “To go into these middle-class neighborhoods—these are people who’ve had jobs, lived in the country for 30 years. A very heavy-handed approach which isn’t resolving anything.”
Douglas’s comments weren’t just political soundbites—they reflected a deep sense of concern for where the world is headed, and the damage he believes his own country has contributed to under Trump’s leadership.